The Gospel

In the simplest of terms, the Gospel is “Good News”. But, what exactly is the Good News that we proclaim at Salem First Baptist Church? Knowing the answer to this question is vital, because it holds the key to experiencing a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 provides a good summary of what the gospel is:

“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

The Gospel is Good News because Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead provides the only means by which mankind can be delivered from the power and penalty of sin. Sin is like a spiritual cancer that infects all of us, and the condition is fatal because it separates us from a Holy God. Many people want to know what they must “do” in order to bridge the distance that exists between them and God, but no amount of good works or human effort will ever be enough to earn salvation. But there is hope, because Jesus has already done the work for us!

Because God loves you, He sent His son to die on the cross so that you might have an “antidote” to save you from the deadly condition of your spiritual cancer. Jesus died on the cross so that we wouldn’t have to. In Christ’s death on the cross, we see God dealing righteously with sin. His death provided everything that was needed in order to bridge the gap that was created by the sins of mankind…including yours! You cannot work your way to heaven, but because of Christ’s work on the cross, you can experience forgiveness that is found in Him alone. His grace is greater than any sin you may have committed.

God’s free gift of salvation is available by God’s grace alone, though faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. The Bible teaches that anyone who puts their trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior will be saved!